Armon H. Bost

Armon H., 94, Tulsa industrialist, civic leader and philanthropist died Friday, March 5, 2004. He was born on May 18, 1909 in Alva, Oklahoma. Bost was the son of early Oklahoma pioneers, Henry Augustus Bost and Jessie Thatcher Bost, the first woman graduate of Oklahoma A&M College and the first woman in Oklahoma to be granted a college degree. He graduated from Alva High School in 1927 and from Oklahoma A&M where he earned a degree in economics. He met and married Jeanine Ann Fabian of Hammond, Indiana in 1931. Their marriage of over 50 years was blessed with five children. His life demonstrated a sense of duty to his church, country and community as well as a dedication to his family and to the development of a thriving business. He was an inveterate traveler having visited over 140 countries around the world. He was a long time member of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church where he served as chairman of the Administrative Board and as a member of the executive committee. In addition, he was a trustee of the Oklahoma Methodist Conference Foundation. His military career included service in World War II where he attained the rank of colonel in the General Staff Corps. He was recalled during the Korean War and was commander of the 306th Logistical Command which was composed largely of servicemen from the Tulsa area. He was active in the Reserve Officers Association, ROTC and the Navy League. Bost was deeply committed to excellence in education. He was president of the Tulsa Board of Education, a charter member of The Oklahoma Commission on Education, and a member and past president of the Board of Regents of Oklahoma State University. In recognition of his service to education, he was inducted into the O.S.U. College of Business Hall of Fame, the O.S.U. Alumni Hall of Fame and was the recipient of the Henry G. Bennett Distinguished Service Award and the Edna Mae Phelps Library Award. Civic activities included the past presidency and lifetime status on the Tulsa Boys' Home Board and membership in the Downtown Rotary Club. He was a past chairman of the Royal Order of Jesters, a 32nd degree Mason and a charter member of the Summit Club. Bost was retired chairman of the board of Midwesco Industries, parent company for Tulsa based Midwestern Equipment Company, Midwestern Manufacturing Company and Midwestern Pipeline Products Company and Hi-Way Equipment Company of Houston. He is survived by his wife, Sammie B. Bost; daughter and son in law, Cherie and Ed Reyes of Sedona, AZ; daughter in law, Donna Bost; son and daughter in law, Jim and Cherry Bost; daughter and son in law, Beverly and Tom Golden, all of Tulsa; and daughter, Merrilee Bost of Oklahoma City, sisters Marie Kephart of Ashland, KY and Pauline Bost of Tulsa; grandchildren Christy Taylor, Colleen Cline, Casey Cline, Rebecca Bost, Bonnie Laster, Jay Bost, Sara Bost, Dathel Grosshart, Laura Golden and six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Jeanine Bost; son, Robert F. Bost; granddaughter, Julie Golden and brother, William Bost. Contributions may be made to Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, Tulsa Boys' Home and the Armon H. Bost Scholarship Fund at Oklahoma State University. Services will be at 1 p.m., Monday, March 8, at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. Private interment. Fitzgeral Southwood Colonial Chapel. 918-291-3500